Posted: 9/23/21 at 1:10pm
This like the Tootsie complaints of transphobia is complete bull. It has nothing to do with : irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender people. Nothing. I don't even think that cross dressers or drag queens could have a legit complaint. It isn't making fun or them, showing fear or discrimination. It is a man dressing as a woman to be near his children. Tootsie was a man dressed as a woman to get an acting job. They are both COMEDIES. Neither has ANYTHING that ridicules trans people. I encounter my first trans person in the 70's in the south. I have been understanding and accepting that long. When American Theatre had an article calling out Tootsie for transphobia I was shocked. Was I too old to get it? I saw Tootsie with a group that included several teens. I asked them (straight and gay) if they thought Tootsie was transphobic. They all answered a resounding NO! I showed them the article and they were also surprised and found it inappropriate.
I had been a subscriber to American Theatre for many, many years. I cancelled my subscription. I will not support a publication publishing something as off base as that one.
What is next, call all Shakespeare plays with breeches roles transphobic? They aren't making fun of trans people. Charley's Aunt? Ridiculous. It has nothing to do with trans discrimination.
Yes, more trans actors should get roles as trans characters. Change takes time but there is more awareness now that even in casting and productions. What to do with a character who transitions during the narrative? They character would be both male and female at different parts.
Years ago I directed Finian's Rainbow. The racist white character Billboard Rawkins is called out by Sharon who doesn't realize she is standing over the pot of gold when she says, "I wish you were black" and poof he is. The script called for the cast to surround him and put black face on him. I was a young director at the time and I thought that is crazy. I had a black actor of the same size in matching make-up and costume switch places during a light/smoke effect.
My major complaint about these unwarranted "protests" which are illogical complaints is that by in large the theatre community and by in large the entertainment world has been more inclusive and supportive than many other organizations and communities.
So many people are off base to call out things. Christian Navarro was upset when he didn't get the role of Prince Eric in the new Little Mermaid film. He called out Disney for not having diversity in casting. When the majority of the leads are non-white (in what was originally an almost white cast) your complaint doesn't hold water.
